Nissan Qashqai Final verdict after nearly 5k miles

AUDI Q4 E-TRON

OUR CARS

FEATURED THIS WEEK

LAND ROVER DEFENDER LEXUS UX NISSAN QASHQAI POLESTAR 2 PEUGEOT 508 PSE

NISSAN QASHQAI

Duringnearly5000milesintheQashqai, didwelearnthesecretofitssuccess?

FINAL REPORT

MILEAGE 8236

WHY WE RAN IT To find out if the third generation of the best-selling SUV is still a cut above the growing ranks of Qashqai rivals

W

hen Autocar’s Nissan Qashqai arrived a few months back, you might recall I named it Ed, after middle-of-the-road music maestro Ed Sheeran. My theory was that both the Qashqai and Sheeran had achieved phenomenal success through the super-smart tactic of appealing to the widest possible audience. Both tick all the boxes but, well, could be considered a little bit bland.

So the goal I set was to see if I could discover “any hidden depths of character” lurking inside the Qashqai. Well, reader, I could not. But what I’ve also realised over the past few months: I’m not sure that really matters.

The truth is I did nearly 5000 miles in the Qashqai – and virtually none of them were memorable. There was never any real spark or hint of driver engagement, no real character to discover, no joy to be had in a machine excelling beyond expectation in any given task. But the truth is also this: during those nearly 5000 miles of driving on all sizes and types of road, on journeys short and long, the Qashqai fulfilled every task I asked of it with unruffled ease. My list of complaints is short, and most seem almost pettily minor.

Compile any list of traits you could reasonably want from a mid-size crossover, and the Qashqai would tick every single one of them. And, ultimately, for this type of car in this type of market, that is far more important than any ‘hidden depths’ . There’s a reason that most other cars of this size are still called ‘Qashqai rivals’ .

We opted to fit out our Qashqai in relatively high-end £32,730 Tekna trim, but even with goodies such as a 12.3in touchscreen, head-up display and digital dash, the Qashqai didn’t feel anything other than mass-market mainstream inside. But, crucially, everything worked. The physical buttons were all well placed and intuitive, the seats were comfortable and there was plenty of space with lots of storage. I’ve sat in many fancier, shinier cars that simply don’t function as well as the Qashqai.

There were some minor frustrations with the Qashqai’s infotainment, which once or twice seemed to crash and reset mid-route. In the final days of my time with the Qashqai, it even asked to download an over-the-air update; although that required me to leave the car with the

Interior doesn’t wow you. Importantly, nor does it make you curse

New Qashqai cuts a more dashing figure than older versions

Driver assist tech helped rather than hindered on the road

Qashqai went on the Extreme E trail – and found one common trait

The Qashqai is a triumph of head over heart, of practicality over personality

SECOND OPINION

I found the Qashqai’s interior posher than the Nissan badge might suggest, and while it can be a bit jittery around town, it settles down on long road trips. The mild-hybrid engine gives it pretty decent fuel economy, too. JB

engine running while it was done, a task it claimed could take up to an hour. Still, I had less trouble with it than I did with the Volkswagen Golf I’d run previously, and the Qashqai had more proper buttons too.

The rear seats were big enough to keep any passengers happy, and while the boot wasn’t entirely as big as you might think (on an airport run with two big suitcases, I found it easier to chuck one on the rear seats), the adjustable lids on the false floor created a really practical, versatile space that effectively stopped shopping bags sliding everywhere.

On the road, the Qashqai rode well, had neutral handling and aided by a raft of monitors and cameras was easy to navigate around even the tightest of car parks. The Nissan Safety Shield suite of systems really impressed and, when applied on the motorway, the adaptive cruise control was among the better I’ve used regularly in recent years.

At times, the Qashqai’s 156bhp 1.3-litre mild-hybrid engine did feel a little lacking in power. It didn’t have the sort of torque that would be helpful at times, and having optioned the six-speed manual, I did find I spent far more time than would be ideal changing gear. As noted in previous reports, if given the option again, I’d probably have gone for the CVT, which would probably better suit the Qashqai’s demeanour. It will be interesting to learn if the forthcoming Hybrid version offers a little more power and character.

But even if I wished for a little more power, it was rarely really necessary. There were times I’d have liked a bit more impetus when pulling away, or to accelerate on a motorway, but such moments were rare and fleeting.

Generally, though, for a family crossover, the Qashqai did everything you could possibly want without complaint. Much like an Ed Sheeran album on repeat loop, it simply fades into the background and provides an unobtrusive backdrop to everyday family life. The Qashqai is a triumph of head over heart, of practicality over personality, or versatility over dynamic agility. Would I ever be excited to jump behind the wheel of a Qashqai? Probably not. But would I ever mind having to drive one? Absolutely not.

Perhaps, though, that is the hidden character of the Qashqai. What lots of people want from a car is an entirely unobtrusive machine that happens to blend into the background. That’s actually a really hard thing for a car to do. So the fact the Qashqai does it so well really is a bit of magic. Like Ed Sheeran, there’s a reason the Qashqai is usually found topping the charts. JAMES ATTWOOD

N ISSAN QASHQAI D iG -T 158PS TE KNA

At start

MILEAGE 3654 At end 8236 PRICES List price new £31,565 List price now £32,585 Price as tested £32,710 OPTIONS Magnetic Blue paint £745, two-tone pearl black roof £400

FUEL CONSUMPTION AND RANGE Claimed economy 44.1mpg Fuel tank 55 litres Test average 41.7mpg Test best 44.9mpg Test worst 40.8mpg Real-world range 505 miles TECH HIGHLIGHTS

0-62mph Top speed Engine

Max power Max torque Gearbox Boot 9.5sec 128mph 4 cyls in line, 1332cc, turbocharged, petrol 156bhp at 5500rpm 192lb ft at 1800-4000rpm 6-spd manual 479 litres

Wheels

7.5Jx19in Tyres 235/50 R19 Kerb weight 1435kg

SERVICE AND RUNNING COSTS Contract hire rate £385 pcm CO2 145g/km Service costs None Other costs None Fuel costs £761.42 Running costs inc fuel £761.42 Cost per mile 16.6 pence Faults None DEPRECIATION

40

0 0 0 s ) 1 ( £ e l u V a 30

20

10 £31,565

£16,025

0 New 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years

PREVIOUS REPORTS 10 Nov 2021, 17 Nov, 5 Jan 2022, 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 16 Feb, 2 Mar

STYLING

The Qashqai is too mainstream to be edgy, but it’s not dull. And in this class, that’s a welcome attribute.

SAFETY SHIELD

Nissan’s safety systems can be a little overbearing at times, but they’re generally really helpful.

PRACTICALITY

The interior cabin and boot really are designed to cope with the rigours of everyday life.

LOATHE IT

POWERTRAIN

It lacks performance and character, and would benefit from a dash more torque.

GEARCHANGING

Six-speed manual is worked hard because of the shortfall in torque. The CVT is a better bet .